Uncover some of the South’s best outdoor attractions
From hot springs tucked in deserts to lush rivers filled with manatees, the Southern United States houses some of the best outdoor attractions in the country. Activities like fossil hunting, observing bioluminescent creatures at night, exploring caves, paddling and hiking to stunning lookout points allow visitors to interact with these destinations intimately, getting a taste for what the South offers. Below are eight of the best outdoor attractions in the region and what you can find at each one.
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Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina
With breathtaking views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure, Chimney Rock stands 315 feet tall along the Blue Ridge Mountains southeast of Asheville. In addition to hiking the Outcroppings trail or riding the elevator to the top of the rock, visitors can also traverse the nine other trails to other lookout points the park offers.
Hickory Nut Falls is a popular trail and leads to one of the tallest waterfalls in the state. 1.5 miles long and taking approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete, the trail ends at the base of a 404-foot waterfall. Visitors can cool off in the refreshing mist and catch their breath at picnic tables while taking in the magnificent view.
Blue Spring State Park, Florida
Known for its manatees, Blue Spring State Park offers many opportunities for visitors to observe the friendly creatures through activities such as swimming, tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddling, hiking and boat tours on the St. Johns River. The park is also home to the Thursby House, built in 1857. Today, the house is a museum where you can learn about the site’s rich history.
Alabaster Caverns State Park, Oklahoma
This park is home to the only black alabaster cave in the United States, one of three in the entire world. Tours are daily and include guided interpretation along well-lit paths. For an extra adventure, visitors can try spelunking in one of the four caves specially maintained for wild caving. This park is also a great place for bat watching. Nearly 20,000 bats across five species live in the caverns.
Big Bend Hot Springs, Texas
Long believed to have healing properties on both the mind and soul, Big Bend Hot Springs is the perfect place to relax. Visitors can soak in the warm water while admiring the Rio Grande River and the desert landscape. The park is rich in history and scattered around the springs are the ruins of the old bath house built by J.O Langford in the early 1900s. Old rock art can even be found on the cliffs. For those who want to explore the park beyond the springs, a one-mile trail loop continues on the bluff above the Rio Grande providing hikers with a different view of the gorgeous river.
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Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Virginia
With trails ranging from half a mile to three miles long, a 500-foot beach featuring a snack bar, boat rentals, cabins and campsites, Smith Mountain Lake State Park has activities for everyone. The park’s thirteen trails ranging from easy to difficult allow visitors to explore the grand forests and secluded coves surrounding the second largest freshwater lake in Virginia.
The park is known for its abundant wildlife including red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, chipping and song sparrows, osprey and water birds. Wild turkeys can even be seen strutting throughout the park, especially early in the morning.
The Walls of Jericho, between Alabama and Tennessee
Situated in the longest plateau of forest on Earth, the surrounding park offers many activities such as camping, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, stream fishing, birding and wildlife viewing. The most popular path, the Walls of Jericho hiking trail, is strenuous but worth it. The trail descends into the canyon and boasts waterfalls and unique limestone formations laden with lichen and moss. Nearby are twelve other trails that give visitors many opportunities to observe the different plants and animals that call this area home.
Calvert Cliffs State Park, Maryland
Stretching for 24 miles along the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay, Calvert Cliffs were formed millions of years ago during a time when Southern Maryland was covered by sea. Today, they contain the fossilized remains of prehistoric species such as sharks, whales, rays and enormous seabirds. The park contains thirteen miles of hiking trails, a recycled tire playground, a fishing pond and a quarter mile of sandy beach where you can hunt for fossils like shark teeth, ray plates, and whale bone fragments.
Dismals Canyon, Alabama
Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975, Dismals Canyon is one of only a few places on Earth where you can see glowworms. Closely related to the glowworms found in Australia and New Zealand, these “Dismalites” light up the canyon after twilight. The park runs 45-minute walking tours at night, leading visitors in the canyon to the best viewing spots of these bioluminescent creatures.
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